2 OPINION MEMBERS of the community are set to have their say on how Wattle Range Council will operate its finances in the coming 12 months. The draft 2019/20 budget is listed for discussion tonight in Millicent at the May monthly council meeting. Staff have prepared the document after six closed budget-related planning workshops with councillors lasting many hours and a district bus tour. If the blueprint is endorsed, there will be a set period of public consultation ahead of a final decision expected next month. The full draft document was not OUR VIEW available at press time yesterday but an accompanying staff report could be read online. From the comments, it is fair to say some people will view the draft budget as being like the fabled curate’s egg. That is, it is good in parts. The 11 elected council members will be asked to endorse a budget of around $25m and this figure is on a par with 2018/19. In essence, this equates to a zero- rate increase and is unprecedented in the 22-year history of Wattle Range Council There is scheduled to be a small operational deficit of just over $100,000. According to the staff report, this will be the third consecutive year the rate rise will be lower than the movement in the Consumer Price Index. The “sting” may come in the recommended adoption of an TALKING TO THE TIMES What are your thoughts about Saturday’s Federal election? ABN: 65 007 614851 Published: Tuesday & Thursday Deadlines: Displays: 10am 2 days prior to publication Classifieds: 11am day prior to publication Copy: 5pm 2 days prior to publication General Manager: Dennis Jackson Phone: 8724 1505, Email: dennis@tbw.com.au Advertising: Tegan Pink Phone: 8724 1501, Email: ads@setimes.com.au Sales Supervisor: Melissa Prior Phone: 8724 1508, Email: melissa@tbw.com.au Editor: Brett Kennedy Email: editor@setimes.com.au Administration: Caroline Hammat Email: admin@setimes.com.au Responsibility for editorial comment is taken by Brett Kennedy, 81 Commercial Street East, Mount Gambier. The SE Times proudly uses 100% recycled paper. Send your news tips and contributions to: brooke@setimes.com.au Published by The Border Watch Pty Ltd ABN: 78 007 828 819 Registered office: 42 Davenport Street, Millicent SA 5280 Postal address: PO Box 22, Millicent SA 5280 Telephone: (08) 8733 3755 Fax: (08) 8733 4341 Business Hours: 8.30am - 5.00pm, Monday - Friday Proud member of Audited by the Audit Bureau of Circulations 726885 Potential court closures spark law firm concerns OUR law firm is concerned about the potential closures of regional court facilities in South Australia, having offices in Millicent and Whyalla. It is indicative of a worrying trend of removal or scaling back of services from regional towns. Millicent’s Court plays an important role, with monthly sittings of magistrates dealing with a broad range of criminal and civil matters. Should this be lost or scaled back further, we expect it will lead to more matters being transferred to Mount Gambier, Murray Bridge and other larger centres, requiring INDEX PUZZLES ........................................................10 TV GUIDE .......................................................11 TRADES AND SERVICES ..............12 50 YEARS AGO ........................................13 CLASSIFIEDS ............................................14 SPORT ..............................................................15 WEATHER FOR MILLICENT Tuesday Max 18°C Min 10°C Possible morning rain Chance of rain - 35% <1mm UV: Low Wednesday Max 18°C Min 9°C Partly cloudy Chance of rain - 15% <1mm UV: Low Thursday Max 19°C Min 7°C Partly cloudy Chance of rain - 5% <1mm UV: Low 2 - The South Eastern Times, Tuesday, May 14, 2019 Tuesday: Partly cloudy. The chance of morning fog. Slight (30%) chance of a shower in the morning and afternoon. Winds northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light before dawn. Overnight temperatures falling to between 8 and 11 with daytime temperatures reaching around 18. Wednesday: Partly cloudy. The chance of morning fog. Light winds. Overnight temperatures falling to between 5 and 8 with daytime temperatures reaching around 18. Thursday: The chance of morning fog. Mostly sunny day. Light winds becoming northerly 15 to 20 km/h during the day then becoming light during the afternoon. Overnight temperatures falling to between 5 and 8 with daytime temperatures reaching around 19. Coastal – Tuesday: Winds westerly 15 to 20 knots turning southwesterly 10 to 15 knots early morning, becoming southwest to southerly in the afternoon, then easing to 5 to 10 knots by early evening. Seas 1 to 2 metres, decreasing below 1 metre by late morning. Swell southwesterly 3 to 4 metres. Wednesday: Winds variable about 10 knots becoming northeast to northwesterly about 10 knots during the afternoon and evening. Seas below 1 metre. Swell southwesterly 2 to 3 metres, decreasing to 2 metres during the evening. Tues 14th Sunrise 7.00am Sunset 5.09pm Wed 15th Sunrise 7.01am Sunset 5.08pm BEACHPORT TIDE TIMES Tues 14 6.21am 0.55m10.04pm0.86m Wed 15 5.20am 0.56m 11.37am 0.77m 4.42pm 0.65m10.34pm0.84m ROBE TIDE TIMES Tues 14 6.34am 0.44m 10.24pm 0.79m Wed 15 5.35am 0.46m 11.45am 0.7m 5.04pm 0.57m 10.50pm 0.77m 745658 www.thesoutheasterntimes.com.au Have your say. The South Eastern Times values your opinion. If you have a view or wish to comment on any community issue we would like to hear from you. Please write to: The Editor PO Box 22, Millicent SA 5280 Email: editor@setimes.com.au clients and counsel to travel long distances to appear, or appear by telephone which is often unsatisfactory. No public transport exists to Mount Gambier presently, meaning the Courts will be inaccessible to many in Millicent. The Millicent Court has been a very important resource for our clients and the community generally. I strongly suggest Millicent residents make their concerns known to their Local Government and State Members of Parliament on this important issue. Sam Partridge, Hume Taylor & Co Chance meet a reminder to appreciate town’s positives MOIRA NEAGLE Guest columnist MY husband and I were in Mount Gambier visiting a friend. We were sitting in a hallway between the kitchen and dining room having a wide ranging conversational catch-up. It was the busy lead-up to the midday meal and there was a bustle of staff with drinks and hot food. The chef in his black check pants and white top passed through. He spotted me and said, “Hello Moira.” I looked up but I did not recognise him. However, the fact that he knew me had hooked my interest. He continued on, “I read your column in The South Eastern Times every week.” Kym drives up to this role from Millicent. “I love the residents here,” he added. Well, that impressed me as the residents all appear to be challenged. This facility houses people with a range of mental and/or physical health issues and they need all the support on offer. In a brief conversation, Kym introduced himself to my husband and I, as he kept up with the delivery of lunch in a timely and professional manner. He arrived in Millicent a few years ago because he likes cold weather, the South East has a good water supply and the people are friendly and welcoming. I am liking this man more and more. He has bought a home here and has made firm friendships with his neighbours. He even cooks for one neighbour. We can easily take our town and its positives for granted. It is good to be reminded of these attributes and to revel in them. I have heard a recent visitor to Millicent had only planned to spend one night here. The town and surrounding regions had so much of interest the stay was stretched out to 10 days. I bet Kym is surprised when he realises he has inspired a column. VALMAY WIDDISON, Millicent I still have an open mind. BRENDON BYTHEWAY, Millicent Whoever is elected as Prime Minister should stay the full three-year term. ANDREW ROHRLACH, Millicent I am paying particular attention to the local candidates and the policies of their parties. expanded rating model which will grow to nine categories instead of the current three. Under this rating model, Glencoe residents will lose their discounted rate along with those on so-called “rural living” blocks. Council is also looking to the wind turbines to share a greater load of the rate burden. Glencoe has never been proclaimed a township and is regarded as a settlement. Its residents will be hit in the hip pocket if the draft budget and new rating model proceeds.